Portable computer housing and assembly methods

ABSTRACT

A portable computer includes a first housing having a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening and having an inside periphery. A first component is removably received within the opening and defines a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening. A first locking member is removably attached within the opening. The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first locking member also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body. A second portion of the first component is exposed within the opening of the first locking member.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/792,862, filed on Mar. 11, 2013, which is set to issue asU.S. Pat. No. 9,229,486 on Jan. 5, 2016, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Housings for portable notebook or clamshell-style computers are oftenmade from a number of plastic panels or sections that are assembled ontoa metal frame. The metal frame is structured to retain and attachtogether the computer's internal components. Such internal componentscan include a printed circuit board that carries the computer's centralprocessor and any additional processors such as for graphics or the likeas well as the computer's random-access memory (RAM). Additionalcomponents include batteries, input devices such as a keyboard andtrackpad or the like, storage memory (such as a hard drive, solid-statedrive, or the like, communications devices (such as for WiFi connectionand networking), removable memory devices (such as CD- or DVD-R/Wdrives), and structures for external peripheral connections.

In such frame-based housing structures, all components can be affixed tothe frame, which itself can be made up of several different parts. Thecomponents of the housing are in turn attached to the frame to provide asomewhat uniform external appearance and to provide protection for theinternal components. In a notebook (or clamshell) configuration, thearrangement just described can make up a base unit that is configured torest on a surface. Another assembly in the form of a lid, or display,housing can be attached to the base housing by a hinge. The lid housingcan include a video display, which can be in the form of a LCD panelwith various forms of backlighting associated therewith. Similar to thebase housing, the display (and any other components also included withinthe lid housing) can be affixed to another frame to which other housingsections or panels are affixed to enclose the lid assembly. The hingecan be attached to both the frame of the lid and the frame of the basewith portions thereof extending through openings between or within thehousing sections or panels.

The hinged attachment between the base and lid housings can allow thecomputer to be moved between open and closed configurations. The closedconfiguration being such that the lid is positioned against the basewith the display and input devices positioned internally of the housingunits for protection thereof during transportation. In the openconfiguration, the display is viewable and the input devices areaccessible to the user. The lid can be rotated through a range ofpositions to provide for comfortable viewing of the display.

Such housing configurations can be complicated to assemble and todisassemble for repair or maintenance reasons due to the complicatednature of attaching multiple housing components to the frame. Further,they can be bulky due to the number of components and the complexassembly patterns required. Further, the number of joints or connectionsbetween components can provide a number of potential failure areas thatcan reduce the overall strength and protection provided by suchhousings. Additionally, because of the various ways in which themultiple panels are assembled together, repair or replacement of onecomponent, such as the keyboard for example, can require removal of anumber of panes, some of which may also be attached to the lid,requiring removal thereof or removal of other additional components orsub-assemblies. These configurations can also be visually unappealing,due to the number of separate components used and due to the gapstherebetween, which can expose fasteners, tabs or the like. This can beparticularly noticeable, for example, around the keyboards used in suchcomputer assemblies.

Other structures have been developed that seek to combine the utility ofthe frame into a part of the housing units and to reduce the overallnumber of exterior pieces that make up the housing. Such structures canbe made from metal and can, for example include in one unit the top wallof a base housing (that surrounds the keyboard) along with the front andside walls thereof. This unit can also have internal reinforcement andcan include attachment structures (such as threaded holes) forattachment of the internal components). A separate unit can define thebottom wall of the base and can attach to the upper housing unit. Suchstructures can provide for easier assembly of components, initially, butcan be even more difficult to repair. For example, to replace thekeyboard of such a computer, the entire base housing must bedisassembled and, in some instances the main circuit board may have tobe removed. Further, because the keyboard must be assembled early on inthe assembly process of such computers, customization of the keyboard orcustom-selection among various keyboards by a purchaser can be difficultor can require long lead times, as the computer assembly cannot beginuntil an order is taken.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to an portable computerincluding a first housing having a first wall defining a first openingand a surface surrounding the opening. The opening has an insideperiphery. A first component is removably received within the opening.The first component defines a body with an outer periphery that is insetwith respect to the inner periphery of the opening. The device furtherincludes a first locking member removably attached within the opening.The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along theinner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first lockingmember also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that isinset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component bodysuch that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portionof the first component body. A second portion of the first component isexposed within the opening of the first locking member and within theopening of the first wall of the first housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a portable computer according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows the portable computer of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of components of the computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows another exploded view of components of the computer of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional detail view of the computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a partially-assembled view of a possible configuration ofthe computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a portable computeraccording to an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for repairing or replacing variouscomponents of a portable computer according to another aspect of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a portable computer 10 inthe form of a “notebook” or “clamshell” computer with a base 12configured to rest on a surface and to support a lid 14 including ascreen 16. Lid 14 is connected to base 12 by a hinge 18 that allows thelid 14 to close against the base 12, as shown in FIG. 2, and to beopened by rotation away therefrom into a user-selectable viewingposition during use of the computer 10, an example of which is shown inFIG. 1.

Base 12 includes a keyboard 70 and a trackpad 66 for user input tocomputer 10. The trackpad 66 can also be referred to as a touchpad andcan include any type of touch-sensitive input, operating by capacitive,magnetic, resistive, surface-acoustic wave or other forms oftouch-sensitivity. Both the keyboard 70 and trackpad 66 are mounted tobase so that they are exposed at (or otherwise available for userinteraction on) an outside surface of the upper wall 28 of the base 12.It is noted that the terms “upper”, “lower”, and other terms related torelative positions of elements are done with respect to the frame ofreference depicted in FIG. 1. Such terms are used for convenience and donot limit the actual positions of the elements should the device berepositioned.

Base 12 includes an upper housing 24 that consists of a unitary materialstructure that includes the upper wall 26. Base further includes a lowerhousing 26 that is assembled with the upper housing to enclose many ofthe internal components of the computer 10. As with upper housing 24,lower housing 26 can be primarily of a unitary material structure. Insome examples, lower housing 26 may include additional outer components,such as covers for externally-accessible batteries or the like. In oneexample, upper housing 24 can be made from a single piece of plastic ormetal, as can lower housing 26, with any walls, including upper wall 28,being integrally formed with the adjacent walls without any joining inthe form of fastening, gluing, welding, or metallic joining such assoldering, braising or the like. Plastic materials can includepolycarbonate (PC), ABS, PCABS, or the like. Metal materials can includealuminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloys, stainless steel, or thelike. Such housings 24 and 26 can be made by injection molding metal orplastic, by die-casting metal.

As shown in FIG. 3, upper housing 24 also includes a keyboard opening 30and a trackpad opening 40 that generally follow the facial profiles ofthe respective keyboard 70 and trackpad 66 such that they can beassembled therein and accessed by a user. An upper wall 28 of housing 24can define a palmrest area 62 adjacent keyboard 70 and trackpad 66. Anumber of peripheral connection openings (not shown) to the interior ofthe base assembly 12 can also be included in housings 24 and 26, and canallow for access to peripheral connections for computer 10 such as for apower adapter plug, a USB device, one or more memory cards, audiodevices, or the like.

Lower housing 26 is configured to enclose internal components of base 12when assembled with upper housing 24. Lower housing 26 can also beconfigured to allow computer 10 to rest on a surface when in use. Assuch, lower housing 26 can include a generally flat lower surface with aplurality of feet or grip members (not shown) that allow base 12 to reston a surface and to be resistant to sliding during normal use. Lowerhousing 26 can be configured to attach with upper housing 24 usingscrews or other fasteners to enclose internal components such as one ormore batteries, and CPU board assembly and related circuitry,communications structures, connection components, such as USB plugs, orpower plugs, as well as internal portions of trackpad assembly 66 andkeyboard assembly 70. Upper housing 24 and lower housing 26 can beconfigured such that selected ones of the aforementioned components canattach with either upper housing 24 or lower housing 26 prior toattachment of the two housings together.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, lid 14 can include an outer housing 44. Lid14 also includes a bezel 44 that is attached to outer housing 44.Together, outer housing 44 and bezel 44 can receive and encloseadditional components of computer 10 therein. Such components caninclude a display assembly including screen 16. Bezel 44 can beconfigured to surround at least part of the display screen 16 associatedwith lid 14. Further, bezel 44 can help retain the display assembly thatis configured to be positioned within lid 14. As such, bezel 44 cancontact the display assembly 60 on a side thereof opposite upper housing44. Bezel 44 also defines a display opening 58 through which at leastthe screen portion 16 of the display assembly is viewable by a user. Thedistance by which bezel 44 extends inward can vary depending on theconfiguration of, for example, the display assembly itself and/or thematerials from which lid housing 44 is constructed. Outer housing 44 andbezel 44 can be assembled together using glue, pressure-sensitiveadhesive, or mechanical fasteners such as screws, snap-fit elements orthe like. In another example, the outer housing 44 of lid 14, as well asupper housing 24 and lower housing 26 of base 12 can be integrallyformed with bezel 44 as a unitary housing configured with multiple,solidly joined, walls of a single piece of material, as described inco-pending, commonly-owned U.S. Provisional Patent App. Nos. 61/672,041and 61/680,824, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

As shown in FIG. 1, hinge 18 can connect base 12 with lid 14. Hinge 18can be configured to allow lid 14 to rotate with respect to base 12 toprovide the desired range of rotation therebetween to allow lid 14 to bepositionable in the closed position and through a usable range of openpositions, as discussed above. Hinge 18 can also be configured toprovide internal friction to maintain a selected open position of lid 14relative to base 12. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the particularstructure of hinge 18 shown is configured such that the axis of rotationbetween lid 14 and base 12 is positioned within base 12. Otherconfigurations are possible in other examples, such as those wherein theaxis of rotation is positioned within lid 14 or outside of both lid 14and base 12. Various other hinge structures and configurations can beincorporated in computer 10, other than that which is shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, computer 10 can be configuredso that keyboard assembly 70 can be externally assembled with base 12independent of the assembly of internal computer components or theassembly of upper housing 24 with lower housing 26. In the example shownin FIG. 3, computer 10 can be configured so that substantially all ofcomputer 10 (excluding keyboard assembly 70) can be assembled togetherbefore assembling keyboard 70 with base 12. In the example shown, thisassembly is facilitated by the structure of computer 10, including theincorporation of a keyboard opening 30 positioned in the upper surface28 of upper base housing 24. In the example shown, keyboard opening 30is open to a recess 32 defined by upper base housing 24 that includes alower surface 35 that is generally parallel to and positioned belowupper surface 28. A wall 36 extends between upper surface 28 and lowersurface 35 and defines an outer periphery of recess 32 that extends fromthe periphery defined by opening 30.

As also shown in FIG. 3, keyboard assembly 70 can include a body in theform of a substrate 70 that defines parallel and spaced-apart upper 76and lower 74 surfaces. Substrate 70 further has affixed thereto overupper surface 76 a plurality of keys 80 configured to provide variousinputs to computer 10 common of computer keyboards in general. The keys80 can be in any number of keyboard configurations and arrangementsprovided, for example, for different languages, countries or regions,etc. These arrangements can include the characters printed on orotherwise identified by the keys 80 and the relative locations thereof,for example. As shown, substrate 72 defines its own outer periphery 78that extends beyond the outermost ones of the keys 80 supported bysubstrate 72.

The wall 36 of recess 32 and the periphery 78 of substrate 72 can beconfigured such that substrate 72 can be received within recess 32 withlower surface 74 of substrate 72 resting on lower surface 35 of recess32, as shown in FIG. 4. The particular fit between substrate 72 andrecess 32 can vary, but in the present example can be such that keyboardassembly 70 can be moved into recess 32 without significant resistancebut such that lateral movement of keyboard assembly 70 within recess 32is limited. The relative sizes of substrate 72 and recess 32 can beadjusted to account for tolerances in the various manufacturingprocesses used in formation thereof. Other configurations of substrate72 and recess 32 are possible, including those in which a press orresistance fit is achieved between substrate 72 and recess 32 or thosein which a certain degree of lateral movement of keyboard assembly 70within recess 32 is permitted with other features, such as adhesives orother fasteners used to maintain the lateral position of keyboardassembly 70 within recess 32. Further, the depth D of recess 32 relativeto the overall height H of keyboard assembly 70 can be such that keys 80are substantially even with upper surface 28 of housing 24 or projectslightly above surface 28 (e.g., by up to 2 mm+/−5%).

In an example, recess 32 can include an access opening 34 within recess32 to allow keyboard assembly 70 to be connected with componentsinternal to base 12, such as the motherboard or the like. Although suchfeatures are omitted from the figures for clarity, the general structureof such features can be similar to those used in other portable computerapplications. In an example, a connection cable (not shown) can extendfrom keyboard assembly 70 and can be extended through access opening 34to connect with an a corresponding connection internal to base 12. Inanother example, a cable can extend from an internal component withinbase 12 that is configured to receive inputs from keyboard assembly 70and can pass through access opening 34 to be connected with keyboardassembly 70 prior to keyboard assembly 70 being placed within recess 32.

Other configurations of portions of upper housing 24 within opening 32are possible. In one example, upper housing 24 can be substantially opento the interior of base 12 within opening 30 with a plurality ofappropriately-positioned tabs or other support structures extendinginward relative to opening 30 to retain keyboard assembly 70 in anappropriate position relative to opening 30 and upper surface 28. Inanother example, recess 32 can include a plurality of openings similarto access opening 34 to provide additional pass-throughs for connectionbetween keyboard assembly 70 and internal components of base 12 or toallow for cooling, weight reduction, or transmission of sound frominternal speakers. In such a configuration, the plurality of openingscan be sized and positioned such that a web-like support structure thatis substantially open to the interior of base 12 defines recess 32.

As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, computer 10 can include a lockingmember 50. Locking member 50 can have a continuous frame-like structuredefining an outer surface 52 and an interior opening 56. Locking membercan be configured such that the outer surface 52 fits securely withinwall 36 and/or opening 30 and further such that a portion thereofextends past the outer periphery 78 of substrate 72 and contacts aportion of upper surface 76 of substrate 72. Accordingly, locking member50 can be assembled with base 12 after the keyboard assembly 70 has beenpositioned within recess 32 to secure keyboard 70 to base 12. Lockingmember 50 can be made of a polymeric material such as a plastic or thelike, including ABS, PC, or the like. Other materials can also be usedfor locking member such as various rubbers, including TPE or the like,nylon, various metals, and others. Locking member 50 can be configuredto be somewhat flexible or compressible so that it can make anappropriately tight fit within opening 30 and so that it can exert aforce against substrate 72 to maintain contact between lower surface 74of substrate 72 and lower surface 35 of recess 32.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, locking member 50 caninclude a protrusion 54 that extends outward from the outside surface 52thereof to engage with a corresponding channel 38 in wall 36 to providea snap-fit between locking member 50 and recess 32. The protrusion 54and channel 38 can extend around the entire peripheries of wall 36 andof outside surface 52 or, in another example, locking member 50 caninclude a number of separate protrusions 54 positioned at variouslocations therearound that can match with a plurality of correspondingchannels 38 in wall 36. In yet another, example, wall 36 can include oneor more protrusions and locking member 50 can include correspondingchannels. Still further features can be used to achieve a snap-fitassembly between locking member 50 and recess 32.

FIG. 5 further illustrates the relationship between keyboard assembly70, recess 32, and locking member 50 (with internal components of base12 omitted). Specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates shows locking member 50assembled within recess 32 in contact with wall 36 and extendinginwardly therefrom to overlap with substrate 72 of keyboard assembly 70and to contact upper surface 76 thereof. As such, the opening 56 definedby locking member 50 can be smaller than keyboard opening 30 and alsosmaller that the area defined by substrate 72, but large enough toprovide adequate access to and clearance for keys 80. As previouslymentioned, locking member 50 can be of a resiliently-flexible materialsuch as Nylon, plastic, or the like. The use of a flexible material canallow locking member 50 to be oversized with respect to the depth withwhich it extends into recess 32 such that it flexes somewhat whenpressed into contact with surface 76. This can cause locking member 50to exert a constant downward force onto substrate 70 that can help toretain the position, both vertically, and laterally, of keyboardassembly 70 within recess 32. Other shapes and configurations of lockingmember 50 can be used and can be adjusted or otherwise devised to givevarying cosmetic appearances, to provide varying fits or interactionswith recess 32 and keyboard assembly and to take advantage of variousmaterial properties.

As further shown in FIG. 5, locking member 50 can include an aperture 60or another similar feature therein to provide a location at which a toolor other instrument can engage or attach with locking member 50 toremove it from recess 32. This can allow keyboard assembly 70 to beremoved from recess 32 for repair or replacement, as will be describedin greater detail below. A plurality of such features can beincorporated in locking member 50 and can be positioned to be visuallyimperceptible to a casual user of computer 10. Alternative structuresfor aperture 60 can include slots, undercuts, or points of separationbetween locking member 50 and surface 76.

Returning to FIG. 3, an example of computer 10 is shown wherein trackpadassembly 66 is positioned with respect to upper housing 24 of base suchthat a touch-sensitive surface 68 thereof extends through a portion ofwall 36 of recess 32 such that an edge of the surface 68 defines aportion of keyboard opening 30. Other arrangements for trackpad assembly66 are possible including those in which a portion of upper housing 24can extend between surface 28 and recess 32 such that surface 28 definesthe entirety of opening 30. In the configuration illustrated, and asshown in FIG. 1, a portion of locking member 50 can extend betweensurface 68 and keyboard assembly 70 to provide visual separationtherebetween. Trackpad assembly 66 can be assembled with base 12 such asby attachment thereof to upper housing 24 before assembly with lowerhousing 26 by screws or other mechanical fasteners. In other examples,trackpad assembly 66 can be assembled with base 12 after assembly ofupper housing 24 with lower housing 26 to enclose internal components ofbase 12 and further after assembly of base 12 with lid 14. In an exampleof such an assembly, upper housing 24 can be configured such thattrackpad assembly 66 can be slid into a corresponding opening 40 bybeing first positioned within recess 32.

In another example shown in FIG. 6, trackpad assembly 66 can beconfigured to engage with housing 24 at an end of opening 40 oppositerecess 32, such as by providing interengaging features within housing 24or the like. Trackpad assembly 66 can then be rotated into a positionsuch that surface 68 is substantially parallel with surface 28. Bothtrackpad assembly 66 and housing 24 or internal features of base 12 canbe configured such that trackpad assembly 66 is appropriately seated andsupported in such a position. When such positioning is achieved,keyboard assembly 70 can be inserted into recess 32, as described above.Trackpad assembly 66 can be configured with a tab 64 that is positionedto extend underneath substrate 72 when keyboard assembly 70 is in placeor alternatively, under a portion of locking member 50 when in placewithin opening 30. In another variation, trackpad assembly 66 can beassembled within opening 40 as just described, but tab 64 can beattached with upper housing 24 for example, by a mechanical fastenersuch as a screw or the like, that is the visually obscured by lockingmember 50 when in place within opening 30.

Trackpad assembly 66 can include various sub-components commonlyassociated with trackpads or other touch-sensitive input devices. Thiscan include a touch sensitive substrate 68 that includes the actualsurface that the user interacts with. The trackpad assembly 66 can alsoinclude a support structure (not shown) that can retain substrate 68 andcan include associated circuitry or other functionality, such asstructures to provide a clickable trackpad surface or the like. In analternative structure to that described above, such a support structurecan be configured to extend outwardly around substrate 68 such thatsubstrate 68 can fit within opening 40 with the support structurecontacting the portion of upper wall 26 that surrounds opening 42. Thisassembly can be secured with adhesives or mechanical fasteners and canbe done prior to the attachment of lower housing 26 to upper housing 24.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating steps in a method for assembling acomputer such as computer 10 having a keyboard 72 securable to the base12 thereof by a locking member 50 or the like. Upon starting the method(step 110), the internal components can be assembled with either or bothof the upper housing 24 or the lower housing 26 of the base (step 112).Similarly, internal components for lid 12, such as display 16 andrelated circuitry or the like, can be assembled with lid housing 42 (orin some configurations with bezel 44) in step 114. The lid 14 can thenbe assembled by attaching bezel 44 with lid housing 44 in step 116. Inone example of computer assembly, the lid 14 can then be attached athinge 18 or a portion thereof to lower housing 26 in step 118. In othercomputer configurations, lid 14 can be attached to base 12 afterassembly of both of these components are separately assembled, or afterassembly of base 12 but before assembly of lid 14. The order of thesesteps can vary depending on the configuration of computer 10 and ofhinge 18 or the like and the method herein can be adjusted or alteredaccordingly. In the present example, upper housing 24 can be attachedwith lower housing 26 in step 120 and after the completion of step 118.At this point, the computer 10 can be fully enclosed with all internalcomponents secured within either base 12 or lid 14. Further, asdiscussed above, trackpad assembly 66 can be assembled with lid 12 instep 112 or can be assembled as an externally-attached component inoptional step 122. This can be done, for example, using a trackpad 66 asshown in FIG. 6 or another similar structure.

In an optional subset of method steps 124, the enclosed computerassembly achieved by steps 110 through 120 (and optionally 122) can bestored in an incomplete state without a keyboard 70 or locking member 50assembled therewith (step 126). This can allow for a number of computers10 to be stored while awaiting orders, either directly from customers,such as through an internet-based ordering system or the like, or byretailers. Separately from such partial computer assemblies, a number ofdifferently-configured keyboard assemblies 70 can be stored, as can anumber of differently-configured locking members 50. As mentioned above,the different keyboard assemblies can include keyboards of differentregion or language based key configurations. They can also includekeyboards with various other features, such as lighted and non-lightedkeyboards, or standard or waterproof (or spillproof) keyboards, orkeyboards of different colors or styles. In connection with an direct orretail-based ordering system, these different keyboard configurationscan be customer options, allowing a user to select from a number ofdifferent keyboard configurations, styles or options at the point ofpurchase. In another implementation, a region or language based keyboardcan be automatically selected by the system based on the user's region(determined, for example from the IP address of the computer from whichthe order was made or by the shipping address). In either selectionmethod, information regarding a selected keyboard can be stored inconnection with the user's order. Similarly, different locking members50 can be stored separately from the keyboards 70 and computerassemblies. For example, locking members 50 can be provided in variouscolors that can be selectable by a customer or retailer when ordering acomputer. Additionally, locking members of various particular shapes canbe provided as can locking members 50 having various additional options,such as built-in lighting or the like can be provided at the option ofthe customer or retailer.

In such an example, an order for a complete computer 10 is received,including information regarding a selected keyboard configuration and/orlocking member configuration (step 128). Subsequently the data can beread, by an automated system or by a person, to determine the keyboard70 and locking member 50 needed to complete the computer 10 as-ordered(step 130). The appropriate keyboard 70 and locking member 10 can thenbe obtained (step 132) along with a partially-assembled computer 134.

Subsequently, whether or not a keyboard or locking member customizationsub-method 124 is implemented, the keyboard 70 can then be placed withinkeyboard opening 30 in step 136. The keyboard 70 can then be secured tobase 12 by assembly of locking member 50, as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 5, within opening 30 over a portion of keyboard assembly70 (step 138) to complete the method (step 140).

Another method according to another aspect of the present disclosure isillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 8. Such a method can be carried outusing, for example, the computer 10 described above with respect toFIGS. 1-6, and can allow for repair or replacement of the keyboard 70and/or locking member 50 without additional disassembly of base 12 orremoval of internal components therefrom. Such a method can be used torepair or replace a keyboard 70 and/or locking member 50 in cases ofdamage to one of these components or to allow for upgrades to orcustomization of such components. Upon starting the method (step 210),the locking member 50 can be removed from base 12 (step 212) such as bypulling locking member 50 from out of opening 30 (which can be doneusing a tool inserted within an aperture 60 in locking member 50, forexample). At this point, the original locking member 50 can be set aside(step 216) or a replacement locking member 50 can be obtained (step218). If only the locking member 50 is to be replaced, then the keyboard70 can be left in opening 30 (step 224) and the new locking member canbe re assembled within opening 30 and the method can be ended (step230).

In other instances, wherein the keyboard is to be repaired or replaced,the keyboard 70 can be removed from opening 30 (step 214) by liftingkeyboard vertically therefrom. I some cases it may be necessary todisconnect any cables used to achieve electrical communication betweenkeyboard 70 and internal components of base 12. The keyboard can thenoptionally be repaired (step 220) or a replacement keyboard can beobtained (step 222). The repaired original or replacement keyboard 70can then be connected with internal components of base 12 and can bere-positioned within opening 30 (step 226). The original locking member50 or a replacement locking member 50 can then be assembled withinopening 30 over a portion of keyboard assembly 70 to secure keyboardassembly to base 12 to complete the method (step 230).

Such a method can be used, for example, to replace a locking member 50of one color with another locking member 50 of a different color.Additionally or alternatively, the method can be used to replace akeyboard assembly 70 with another one having keys 80, for example, of adifferent color, or to upgrade a standard keyboard 70 to one havingincorporated illumination or waterproofing, as discussed above. Further,the method can be used to replace a keyboard 70 of one regional orlanguage based key 80 configuration with a keyboard 70 of another regionor language based configuration.

Other repair, upgrade, and/or reconfiguration of keyboard 70 and lockingmember 50 are possible using the above-described method or variationsthereof. Similarly, the methods described with respect to the flowchartsin both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 can be used with variations of the computer 10shown in FIGS. 1-6 that incorporate any type of externally-assembledkeyboard assembly secured in place with any type of a locking member.

Although the description herein has been made with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

1. A portable computing device, comprising: a housing including a firstwall surface defining a first opening and a channel disposed within thefirst wall surface, the first opening having an interior perimeter; acomponent removably received within the first opening, the componentdefining a body with an upper surface and an outer perimeter that isinset with respect to the interior perimeter of the first opening; and alocking member comprised of a resiliently-flexible material, the lockingmember having a frame defining a second opening and extending at leastpartially around the interior perimeter of the housing, the lockingmember overlying the component, wherein the locking member is configuredto be removed and reengaged with the channel of the housing, such thatwhen the locking member and channel are engaged with one another, thelocking member secures the body of the component within the firstopening of the housing and the upper surface of the body is exposedthrough the first and second openings.